Simulated basketball game

ABSTRACT

A gameboard having a flat, smooth playing surface on which a basketball court is imprinted. The court has a pair of recessed goals or baskets at opposing ends of the board for scoring points in the game. A bumper rail surrounds the playing surface of the gameboard. An ordinary penny is successively used by opponents in playing the game and scores are obtained by moving the penny into an opponent&#39;&#39;s goal. The penny may be caromed off the pumper rail in executing plays to score goals in the game. A plurality of chips are used by the opponents for blocking the pathway of the penny to the goals and a pair of upstanding spaced blocks in front of each recessed goal are utilized through which foul shots are attempted.

United States Patent [191 Benander 1 SIMULATED BASKETBALL GAME [76] lnventor: Vincent A. Benander, 4810 Donald Ave., Richmond Heights, Ohio 44143 [22] Filed:

Mar. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 238,827

[52] US. Cl. 273/85 R, 273/126 R [51] Int. Cl. A63f 7/06 [58] Field of Search 273/85 R, 126 R, 126 A, 273/123 R, 123 A, 14, 113,115,116

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 607,031 7/1898 Gilberg 273/123 R 1,296,111 3/1919 Olson.... 273/126 R 1,504,605 8/1924 Clausen. 273/85 R 1,619,279 3/1927 Wagner 273/85 R 1,712,073 5/1929 Fowler 273/85 R 1,712,159 5/1929 ODonnell 273/85 R 3,410,560 1l/l968 Kraemer 273/115 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 518,536 4/1953 Belgium 273/85 R m] 3,827,691 [451 Aug. 6, 1974 513 l/1906 Great Britain 273/126 R Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer 5 7 ABSTRACT A gameboard having a flat, smooth playing surface on which a basketball court is imprinted. The court has a pair of recessed goals or baskets at opposing ends of the board for scoring points in the game. A bumper rail surrounds the playing surface of the gameboard. An ordinary penny is successively used by opponents in playing the game and scores are obtained by moving the penny into an opponents goal. The penny may be caromed off the pumper rail in executing plays to score goals in the game. A plurality of chips are used by the opponents for blocking the pathway of the penny to the goals and a pair of upstanding spaced blocks in front of each recessed goal are utilized through which foul shots are attempted.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures m l; I.

l I fla 1 E 34 Q I E 34 L ll 1%.

BAIENTEU AUG 8I974 1 SIMULATED BASKETBALL GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A game, to be successful, must involve the individuals playing the game. The game should be physically and mentally attractive to the players; that is, it should require some manipulative skills and challenge the mentality of the players. This is especially true of sports games which try to emulate the action-filled drama occurring in a real game of hockey, baseball, or basketball.

Many sports games presently on the market, rely on spinning devices, complicated pay-card combinations, vibrating boards, and miniature moving figures for stimulating action in the game. The complex devices actually distract from the game because they are usually involved and the normal task of setting up and executing plays in the game becomes quite tedious and burdensome. In some games, operation of the manipulating devices often becomes the primary concern, taking precedence over the game itself. Other games literally play themselves and require no involvement of the participants. The invention is directed to providing a fast moving sports game which relies on a players dexterity in manipulating a very simple device for playing and scoring points in the game.

Briefly stated, the invention is in a game comprising a gameboard having a flat, smooth playing surface and a bumper rail bounding the playing surface. A pair of goals are disposed within the bumper rail adjacent opposing ends of the gameboard and are designed for receiving a thin disk which is slidable, by hand, across the playing surface into the goals for producing scores in the game. The gameboard may include means disposed on the playing surface for receipt of the disc to direct subsequent plays of the game.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The following description of the invention will be better understood by having reference to the annexed drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a basketball game made in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section viewed from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a basketball game, generally indicated at 5. The game comprises a board 6 which is usually rectangular in shape and has a smooth, flat playing surface 7 on which a basketball court 8 is imprinted. The gameboard 6 may be made of any suitable material, e.g. metal or wood. The basketball court 8 resembles a real basketball court and is defined by side lines 9 and 11 and base lines and 12. A center line 13 divides the basketball court 8 into two half courts A and B, i.e. back and forth courts depending on the player having possession of the ball. Standard jump circles l4, l5, and 16 are spaced along the longitudinal center line of the basketball court 8. Regulation free throw lanes or keys 17 and 18, including the farthest spaced jump circles 14 and 16, are provided and, likewise, centered on the basketball court 8. A pair of foul shooting lines 19 and divide the jump circles 14 and16 adjacent the keys l7 and 18. A pair of circular openings 21 and 22 are provided in the playing surface 7 of the gameboard 6 and serve as baskets or goals for obtaining scores in the game 5. The goals 21 and 22 are aligned with the jump circles 14-16 and positioned within the keys 17 and 18 adjacent the base lines 10 and 12.

A pair of similar blocks 23 and 24 guard each of the goals 21 and 22 and are located in the keys l7 and 18 between the goals 21 and 22 and their associated foul lines 19 and 20. The individual blocks 23 and 24 of each pair are close to the goals 21 and 22 and spaced apart a distance (d). The pairs of blocks 23 and 24 are, like the goals 21 and 22, centered within the keys 17 and 18.

A rim 25 borders the gameboard 6 and includes a bumper rail 26 extending above the playing surface 7 of the gameboard 6. The rim 25 may be made from any satisfactory material such as wood, plastic, or metal.

A token or playing piece 27 is provided for scoring goals or baskets in the game 5. It is important that the token 27 slide and not roll on the playing surface 7; therefore, the token 27 should be sufficiently thin and weighted that it will continue sliding on the playing surface 7 after striking and rebounding or ricocheting from the bumper rail 26. A solid metal disc or coin has been found to slide rather than roll on the playing surface 7. A legally minted U.S. one cent piece, or penny has been found especially suitable for use as a token in playing the game 5.

A player on the offensive, strikes the penny 27 with a finger tip 28 to move it across the playing surface 7. The spacing (d) between the blocks 23 and 24 of each pair, is slightly larger than the diameter of the penny 27 and, preferably, should be between 1 1/10 to 1 1/5 times the diameter of the penny 27 and not more than 1 /2 times the diameter of the penny 27.

A player on the defensive, uses a larger disc 29 for blocking the pathway of the penny 27 to one of the goals 21 or 22. The defensive player similarly uses a finger tip 30 for flicking the blocking disc or piece 29 across the playing surface 7 of the gameboard 6 to a position for blocking an offensive players shot towards the basket or goal 21 or 22. A regular plastic poker chip has been found especially suitable for use as a blocking piece 29. It can be appreciated that the pieces or token used in playing the game are easily replaced if any of the original pieces become lost or misplaced.

A plurality of pass circles, marked P, are strategically located on the playing surface 7 of the basketball court 8. The pass circles of each half court A and B are identical and similarly positioned relative to the goals or baskets 21 and 22. The four main pass circles closest the center line 13 are larger in diameter than the pass circles closer the keys 17 and 18. A number of stolen ball circles, marked S, are also strategically located on the basketball court 8, preferably halfway between the pass circles, as shown in FIG. 1. The center jump circle 15 is divided into semi-circular pass areas, marked P, whereas the jump circles 14 and 16, closest the baskets 21 and 22, are each divided into semi-circular pass and stolen ball areas, marked P and S, respectively. A pair of smaller jump circles, marked .1, are provided adjacent each of the baskets 21 and 22.

A semi-circular line 31 divides the half courts A and B into different scoring zones, e.g. an inner zone Z and an outer zone 2 It has been found by experience, that the best location of the various circles indicating certain plays, are as shown in FIG. 1, and the alignment of the various play circles should be visually apparent. A clear shot from the main pass circles in the outer zone Z and the goal aligned pass circles in the inner zone Z,, is impeded by the guard blocks 23 and 24 protecting the baskets 21 and 22. The stolen ball circles are naturally interposed between the pass circles to make passing of the basketball or penny 27 between pass circles more difficult.

A plastic cup 32 is provided beneath each of the goals 21 and 22 for catching the penny 27 to facilitate its removal from the goals. A triangular fillet 33 is disposed in each corner formed by the intersecting bumper rails 26 and acts to divert the penny 27 and keep it from becoming stuck in the corners.

PLAYING THE GAME OF BASKETBALL The penny 27 is flipped into the air and the winner of the toss begins the game as an offensive player. Play begins from the center jump circle and the offensive player places the penny 27 in his back court pass area, as seen in FIG. 1. The first shot of the offensive player must move the penny 27 across the center line 13 into the offensive players front court which is the defensive players back court. Normally, an offensive player has two shots or turns to make a basket or goal, unless the player can extend his play by completing a pass which is accomplished by moving the penny 27 to a position where it touches any part of a pass circle. A turnover occurs and the offensive player loses possession of the ball or penny 27, if, after his first shot, he misses in an attempt to make a basket or goal, or does not complete a pass by missing a pass circle. The defensive player, after each shot by an offensive player, has the opportunity of moving a blocking chip 29 onto the basketball court 8. The defensive player accomplishes this by placing a blocking chip 29 anywhere in his back court between the base line and adjacent bumper rail 26. The defensive player uses a finger tip to flick the blocking chip 29 into the desired position on the playing surface 7. The offensive player has the option of shooting for a basket or attempting a pass. The offensive player can carom or ricochet the penny 27 off the bumper rail 26, if the direct pathway to the basket or goal 2] or 22 is blocked by a defensive chip 29. Similar to the actual game of basketball, the offensive player loses possession of the ball or penny 27, if the penny 27, after a shot, comes to rest out-of-bounds, or outside the basketball court 8.

An offensive player receives three points for making a basket from the outer zone 2 and two points for making a basket within the inner zone 2,. After a basket is scored, the defensive player takes possession of the ball and play is resumed by placing the penny 27 at the closest takeout line 34 outside the base line behind the goal 21 or 22 in which the score was made. Prior to taking the penny 27 out, so to speak, the playing surface 7 is cleared of any defensive chips 29. The new offensive player may elect to pass over the center line 13, or attempt a pass in his back court by moving the penny 27 into one of the pass circles. The offensive player will lose possession of the ball in his back court, if the pass is not completed, however, since the offensive player must move the ball beyond the center line 13, unless a pass is completed in the back court and play is extended an additional turn. A turnover occurs and the offensive player loses possession of the ball if, when attempting a pass, the penny 27 comes to rest on any portion of a stolen ball circle.

As previously indicated, a defensive player is allowed a defensive chip 29 for every shot an offensive player makes. The defensive player has the option of pressing the offensive player. This is accomplished by moving two defensive chips into blocking position in a single turn. The offensive player may then shoot for the basket or elect to pass off to one of the pass circles. Should the subsequent pass be completed, then the offensive player is allowed a free shot at the goal from that pass circle, since the defensive player has used up his second turn by shooting two chips 29 in succession, or pressing the offensive player.

Fouls are committed when the tokens of the offensive and defensive players touch. The foul is against the player whose token strikes the token at rest on the basketball court 8. Foul shots are made by placing the penny 27 on the foul line 19 or 20 and shooting the penny 27 between the blocks 23 and 24 into the closest basket 21 or 22. Play is resumed at the closest takeout line 34 by the player committing the foul, after the foul shot is completed. When the penny 27 is bumped by a defensive chip 29, the offensive player has the privilege of shooting for a basket and if he scores one he only gets one foul shot. Otherwise, he gets two foul shots. Similar to a regular basketball game, a defensive player fouled anywhere, or an offensive player fouled in his back court, is given a single foul shot, or a one-on-one foul shot depending on how many fouls the player committing the foul has incurred at the time of the offense.

A jump ball occurs, if the penny comes to rest on any portion of the jump circles marked J and located adjacent the base lines 10 and 12. In such cases, the penny 27 is flipped and the winner of the toss takes over the ball from that particular jump circle J. A defensive chip 29 may not be shot into the keys 17 and 18 as a defensive measure, but can be used to knock the penny 27 out of the key, or into a stolen ball circle. Any defensive chip 29 coming to rest within a key, must be removed from the basketball court 8. In some shots, the penny 27 may be recocheted or caromed off the blocks 23 and 24 guarding the goals 21 and 22. The foregoing comprise the basic rules of the game and local rules can be adopted to increase the action and play of the game. It should be apparent that the rules and play closely resemble that of a real game of basketball. The game is fast moving and filled with excitement depending on how fast the tokens are moved by the players. Other related games, such as foul shooting contests, Twentyone, or Pig may be played.

A fast moving game, played as a warm-up for the basketball game, is as follows: The penny 27 is flipped and the winner of the toss places the penny 27 between the guard blocks 23 and 24 of his goal, e.g. goal 21. The penny 27 is then shot towards the opposing goal 22. If the shot is made the other party places the penny 27 between his pair of guard blocks 23 and 24 and shoots the penny 27 back towards the opposite goal 21. Each party is entitled to a single shot and the opponent takes over possession of the penny 27 where it comes to rest, if the goal is missed. No defensive chips 29 are used and the first to score an agreed upon number of points, wins the game. A player scoring between the blocks 23 and 24 is given a bonus because of the extra skill required to make such a shot. This game is designed to sharpen the shooting skill required in making baskets in the has ketball game.

Thus, there has been described a game which is uncomplicated and simple to play; yet, requires a great deal of dexterity in executing plays to score points in the game.

I claim:

1. A simulated basketball game comprising:

a. a gameboard having a smooth, flat playing surface;

b. a bumper rail bounding the playing surface and extending therefrom;

c. a thin disc slidable across the playing surface of the gameboard and used for scoring points in the game;

d. a single pair of goals centrally disposed on the longitudinal axis of the playing surface within the bumper rail adjacent opposing ends of the playing surface, each of the goals including a circular recess having a diameter greater than the diameter of the disc, the goals being spaced from the bumper rail such that the disc can pass between each of the goals and adjacent portions of the bumper rail without falling into the recesses;

e. a foul line associated with each of the goals and crossing the longitudinal axis of the playing surface in spaced relation from an associated goal, any foul shots in the game being directed towards the goals from an associated foul line;

f. a single pair of immovable blocks extending from the playing surface between each of the goals and an associated foul line, the blocks of each pair of blocks being spaced from the goals such that the disc can pass between the blocks and goals without falling into the recesses, the blocks of each pair of blocks being equally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the playing surface and apart a distance which is less than the diameter of each circular recess and slightly greater than the diameter of the disc;

g. means disposed on the playing surface for directing subsequent plays in the game when the disc comes to rest on said means in a predetermined manner; and

h. a plurality of chips slidable on the playing surface and used by each of the opponents for blocking the pathway of the disc to the goals, the chips having a diameter larger than the disc.

2. The game of claim 1, which includes:

i. at least one pair of lines disposed on the surface of the gameboard between the goals, the lines defining a space thcrebetween from which a disc shot into a goal derives a score greater than the score derived by shooting a disc into a goal from a spot outside the space between the lines.

3. The game of claim 1, wherein the disc is solid and metallic.

4. The game of claim 3, whereinthe disc is a legally minted United States one cent coin or penny.

5. The game of claim 1, wherein the bumper rail is rectangular and has four corners and triangular fillets are disposed in the corners to deflect the disc out of the corners.

6. The game of claim 1, wherein the means for directing subsequent plays includes a plurality of spaces each of which are bounded by a continuous line, certain of the spaces containing indicia indicating a completed pass, and certain other spaces containing indicia indicating a stolen ball.

7. The game of claim 6, which includes:

k. at least one pair of lines disposed on the surface of the gameboard between the goals, the lines defining a space, thcrebetween from which a disc shot into a goal derives a score greater than the score derived by shooting a disc into a goal from a spot outside the space between the lines.

8. The game of claim 7, wherein the disc is solid and metallic.

9. The game of claim 8, wherein the disc is a legally minted United States one cent coin or penny.

10. The game of claim 9, wherein each of the chips has a diameter which is at least twice the diameter of the penny.

ll. The game of claim 10, wherein the bumper rail is rectangular and has four corners, and a triangular fillet is disposed in each corner for deflecting the disc out of the corners.

12. The game of claim 11, wherein the distance (d) between the blocks of each pair of blocks is between 1 1/10 to 1% times the diameter of a penny. 

1. A simulated basketball game comprising: a. a gameboard having a smooth, flat playing surface; b. a bumper rail bounding the playing surface and extending therefrom; c. a thin disc slidable across the playing surface of the gameboard and used for scoring points in the game; d. a single pair of goals centrally disposed on the longitudinal axis of the playing surface within the bumper rail adjacent opposing ends of the playing surface, each of the goals includinG a circular recess having a diameter greater than the diameter of the disc, the goals being spaced from the bumper rail such that the disc can pass between each of the goals and adjacent portions of the bumper rail without falling into the recesses; e. a foul line associated with each of the goals and crossing the longitudinal axis of the playing surface in spaced relation from an associated goal, any foul shots in the game being directed towards the goals from an associated foul line; f. a single pair of immovable blocks extending from the playing surface between each of the goals and an associated foul line, the blocks of each pair of blocks being spaced from the goals such that the disc can pass between the blocks and goals without falling into the recesses, the blocks of each pair of blocks being equally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the playing surface and apart a distance which is less than the diameter of each circular recess and slightly greater than the diameter of the disc; g. means disposed on the playing surface for directing subsequent plays in the game when the disc comes to rest on said means in a predetermined manner; and h. a plurality of chips slidable on the playing surface and used by each of the opponents for blocking the pathway of the disc to the goals, the chips having a diameter larger than the disc.
 2. The game of claim 1, which includes: i. at least one pair of lines disposed on the surface of the gameboard between the goals, the lines defining a space therebetween from which a disc shot into a goal derives a score greater than the score derived by shooting a disc into a goal from a spot outside the space between the lines.
 3. The game of claim 1, wherein the disc is solid and metallic.
 4. The game of claim 3, wherein the disc is a legally minted United States one cent coin or penny.
 5. The game of claim 1, wherein the bumper rail is rectangular and has four corners and triangular fillets are disposed in the corners to deflect the disc out of the corners.
 6. The game of claim 1, wherein the means for directing subsequent plays includes a plurality of spaces each of which are bounded by a continuous line, certain of the spaces containing indicia indicating a completed pass, and certain other spaces containing indicia indicating a stolen ball.
 7. The game of claim 6, which includes: k. at least one pair of lines disposed on the surface of the gameboard between the goals, the lines defining a space therebetween from which a disc shot into a goal derives a score greater than the score derived by shooting a disc into a goal from a spot outside the space between the lines.
 8. The game of claim 7, wherein the disc is solid and metallic.
 9. The game of claim 8, wherein the disc is a legally minted United States one cent coin or penny.
 10. The game of claim 9, wherein each of the chips has a diameter which is at least twice the diameter of the penny.
 11. The game of claim 10, wherein the bumper rail is rectangular and has four corners, and a triangular fillet is disposed in each corner for deflecting the disc out of the corners.
 12. The game of claim 11, wherein the distance (d) between the blocks of each pair of blocks is between 1 1/10 to 1 1/4 times the diameter of a penny. 